Concussion history and virtual reality metrics predict core or lower extremity injury occurrence among high school athletes
IntroductionA history of concussion is recognized as a risk factor for musculoskeletal injury, which is likely associated with physiological effects that warrant better understanding. This study aimed to assess the potential of measurements obtained from an immersive virtual reality (VR) test to ide...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1374772/full |
| _version_ | 1797242921433432064 |
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| author | Gary B. Wilkerson Kimberly R. Wynn Paige W. Dill Shellie Acocello Lynette M. Carlson Jennifer Hogg |
| author_facet | Gary B. Wilkerson Kimberly R. Wynn Paige W. Dill Shellie Acocello Lynette M. Carlson Jennifer Hogg |
| author_sort | Gary B. Wilkerson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionA history of concussion is recognized as a risk factor for musculoskeletal injury, which is likely associated with physiological effects that warrant better understanding. This study aimed to assess the potential of measurements obtained from an immersive virtual reality (VR) test to identify a subtle perceptual–motor impairment that may be prospectively associated with the occurrence of a core or lower extremity sprain or strain.MethodsA cohort of 68 high school athletes (41 female soccer players and 27 male football players) provided survey responses and completed an immersive VR test several days prior to the initiation of preseason practice sessions. Measurements of eye, neck, arm, and whole-body displacements were obtained during 40 successive lunging/reaching responses to visual stimuli moving horizontally across the VR headset display. Injury occurrences were electronically documented from the initial preseason practice session to the final game of the season.ResultsA statistically significant and intrinsically credible two-factor prediction model for core or lower extremity injury occurrence included an interaction between female sex and a self-reported history of two or more concussions, along with slow response time (RT) for arm reach (OR = 4.67; 95% CI, 1.51–14.43). Follow-up analyses identified sex-specific cut points for arm reach RT associated with elevated injury risk, which were ≥1.385 s for females and ≥1.257 s for males.DiscussionHigh school female soccer players who have sustained more than one concussion appear to be highly vulnerable to core or lower extremity sprain or strain, with the risk of injury compounded by a slow arm reach RT. Male football players as a group demonstrated significantly faster arm reach RT than that of female soccer players, but slow perceptual–motor RT for arm reach was also identified as a potentially important injury risk factor for male players. Immersive VR appears to provide precise measurements of behavioral performance characteristics that depend on brain processing efficiency. Given that the speed, accuracy, and consistency of perceptual–motor responses may be modifiable, future research should explore the potential benefits of VR training for reducing the risk of sport-related injuries. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:46:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f65906cf30864e658d762560a1587caf |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:46:54Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj.art-f65906cf30864e658d762560a1587caf2024-03-27T04:57:18ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672024-03-01610.3389/fspor.2024.13747721374772Concussion history and virtual reality metrics predict core or lower extremity injury occurrence among high school athletesGary B. Wilkerson0Kimberly R. Wynn1Paige W. Dill2Shellie Acocello3Lynette M. Carlson4Jennifer Hogg5Department of Health and Human Performance, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN, United StatesDepartment of Intercollegiate Athletics, Mercer University, Macon, GA, United StatesSports Medicine Outreach Program, Optim Health System, Mount Vernon, GA, United StatesDepartment of Health and Human Performance, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN, United StatesDepartment of Health and Human Performance, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN, United StatesDepartment of Health and Human Performance, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Chattanooga, TN, United StatesIntroductionA history of concussion is recognized as a risk factor for musculoskeletal injury, which is likely associated with physiological effects that warrant better understanding. This study aimed to assess the potential of measurements obtained from an immersive virtual reality (VR) test to identify a subtle perceptual–motor impairment that may be prospectively associated with the occurrence of a core or lower extremity sprain or strain.MethodsA cohort of 68 high school athletes (41 female soccer players and 27 male football players) provided survey responses and completed an immersive VR test several days prior to the initiation of preseason practice sessions. Measurements of eye, neck, arm, and whole-body displacements were obtained during 40 successive lunging/reaching responses to visual stimuli moving horizontally across the VR headset display. Injury occurrences were electronically documented from the initial preseason practice session to the final game of the season.ResultsA statistically significant and intrinsically credible two-factor prediction model for core or lower extremity injury occurrence included an interaction between female sex and a self-reported history of two or more concussions, along with slow response time (RT) for arm reach (OR = 4.67; 95% CI, 1.51–14.43). Follow-up analyses identified sex-specific cut points for arm reach RT associated with elevated injury risk, which were ≥1.385 s for females and ≥1.257 s for males.DiscussionHigh school female soccer players who have sustained more than one concussion appear to be highly vulnerable to core or lower extremity sprain or strain, with the risk of injury compounded by a slow arm reach RT. Male football players as a group demonstrated significantly faster arm reach RT than that of female soccer players, but slow perceptual–motor RT for arm reach was also identified as a potentially important injury risk factor for male players. Immersive VR appears to provide precise measurements of behavioral performance characteristics that depend on brain processing efficiency. Given that the speed, accuracy, and consistency of perceptual–motor responses may be modifiable, future research should explore the potential benefits of VR training for reducing the risk of sport-related injuries.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1374772/fullmild traumatic brain injuryinjury riskinjury preventionclinical assessmentchoice reaction time |
| spellingShingle | Gary B. Wilkerson Kimberly R. Wynn Paige W. Dill Shellie Acocello Lynette M. Carlson Jennifer Hogg Concussion history and virtual reality metrics predict core or lower extremity injury occurrence among high school athletes Frontiers in Sports and Active Living mild traumatic brain injury injury risk injury prevention clinical assessment choice reaction time |
| title | Concussion history and virtual reality metrics predict core or lower extremity injury occurrence among high school athletes |
| title_full | Concussion history and virtual reality metrics predict core or lower extremity injury occurrence among high school athletes |
| title_fullStr | Concussion history and virtual reality metrics predict core or lower extremity injury occurrence among high school athletes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Concussion history and virtual reality metrics predict core or lower extremity injury occurrence among high school athletes |
| title_short | Concussion history and virtual reality metrics predict core or lower extremity injury occurrence among high school athletes |
| title_sort | concussion history and virtual reality metrics predict core or lower extremity injury occurrence among high school athletes |
| topic | mild traumatic brain injury injury risk injury prevention clinical assessment choice reaction time |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2024.1374772/full |
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